Summer in the 70s....

Summer in the 70s.....

so awesome....
Remember?

I do.

all day long.....over and over and over again....

of course there was an occasional break to cruise around the hood on this guy...

or this one....

or even this one...
When we finally dragged our pruned hands and feet inside, out of the sun ...we were able to spend the evening on a country camp out...with Barbie, Ken and Skipper.

God, thank You for such an incredible childhood....as well as adulthood.

Knowing I belong to You, takes me back to these simpler times.

In His Dust,

DCC

The Price...

My Daddy...

He served our country.

We missed him....but by the Grace of God, He came home.

My Granddaddy

He served our country...

He paid the ultimate price.

"There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." John 15:13

my grandmother paid the price.

My great-grandmother paid the price...

His children, my mom and my uncle, they paid the price.

On this Memorial Day, I recognize and remember the price.

It is not free.

It never has been.

It never will be.

God, thank You for those who serve us. Thank You for giving the life of Your Very Own Son...to ensure our eternal freedom. Please give peace to those who are left behind...and rest to those that are in Your Very Presence.

In His Dust,

DCC

Denial...

So let me get this straight Doctor, the first stage of grief I'll go through

over the death of my son is denial? *

There is no denying it, the tomb is still empty!!!

God, thank You for overcoming it all for us!

In His Dust,

DCC

*Cartoon by Cuyler Black

http://www.inheritthemirth.com/

John...

"There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

To some, Jesus was a miracle worker.

To some, Jesus was a master teacher.

To some, Jesus was the hope of Israel.

But to John, He was all of these and more.

To John, Jesus was a friend.*

John always seemed to be right there....he clearly stayed very close to Jesus.
He sat next to Him in the upper room.

He was there with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane.

He stood with His Mother during the crucifixion,

He was a quick walk from the tomb at the burial.

Knowing what we know about John, I think it is safe to assume, he was on his heel like a good Labrador.

Think about it...all the stories John tells in his book, (that would be the book of John),

water to wine, multiplying the loaves and fishes, healing a blind man...

He saw these things happen, because he was right there.

He was with his Friend.

He was in The Dust of his Rabbi.

God, thank You for allowing us to follow You. May we be worthy of Your Dust.

In His Dust,

DCC

*Max Lucado

Grace...

If Grace has a definition- it is undeserved favor.

If Grace has a destination-it is the arms of someone you know loves you.

If Grace has a job- it is to pray for each other.*

Grace is Compassion, Gratitude, Surrender, Faith, Forgiveness, Reverence and the list goes on.

How you climb up a mountain is just as important as how you get down it.

So it is with life, which for many of us it is just one big gigantic test followed by one big gigantic lesson.

In the end it all comes down to one word- Grace-

It's how you accept winning or losing, the darkness or light.

It's something money can't buy.

It's not being the smartest, the richest, the most talented, or even the prettiest.*

God's Riches At Christ's Expense.

God, thank you for giving us a fresh start every day to get it right. Thank you for showing up in people, things and places where we do not expect you.

In His Dust,

DCC

*Stolen (aka borrowed), from Philosophy cosmetics.

Cheeses...

Wherever you find yourself-
Have a great weekend-

In His Dust,
DCC

Lemonade Stand...

I drove up on these two hoodlums trying to raise a few bucks...I'm thinking they are going to make a break for the Candy Lounge with their loot.....

However upon closer inspection...

I find they are raising money for their 45 year old aunt who has been diagnosed with

ALS-(Lou Gehrig's disease)

Within moments- kids from other houses started coming out of the woodwork...

shorties from all directions....with and without shoes...
they bombarded the table with new signs.... new things to sell...

They did whatever they could to help.

(What!?!? This is for the people to read in their rear view mirrors as they drive away...)

They made sure the cups on the signs were colored properly.
One by one...they came to help, not for themselves...but for a bigger cause.
Something else.
Someone else.
Oh sure, they thought they were selling lemonade, bracelets, rocks, sticks...
but that is not what I saw at all.

I saw Community....we are created FOR it....I saw friendship...we are sustained BY it....

I saw God working....and bringing people together

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down, his friend can help him up.

But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.

But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." ~Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

God, thank you for surrounding us with the right people at the right time...especially when we least expect it-May we remember that when it is time to make lemonade, You are The One who sends us to each other.

In His Dust,

DCC

Ice Fishing...

Mother's Day Lunch- I am sitting next to this.

I keep hearing in my left ear- "Duhhbbbi, check it out- I am catching ice fish."

When I finally turn to see what exactly is going on...I see this....an ice fisherman.

Apparently, they are often found in a Dr. Pepper and once caught,
they are to be transported immediately into a napkin.

You see, this is how it goes...

Here is a close up on the catch, there were 21.

Which is the limit on ice fish.

Sometimes, you have to stand back and admire your catch-

As I watched Mikey break a sweat to haul in this "catch"-

I thought of how I "fish", for worries.

They serve no purpose....they melt away. I tend to set them out and review over them....wondering how much bigger they could get.

Of course after prayer, and time....they tend to grow smaller and eventually disappear, They are hardly ever what they appear to be.

God, please forgive me for catching my "ice fish"=worries and making them bigger than my trust in You.

In His Dust,

DCC

I LOVE MY MOMMY!!!

She gave me life....

She taught me about love...

she taught me about comfort and security...

she has been listening to this for almost 42 years...

she entertained me (still does) and taught me about multi-taskingshe has taught me that sometimes, you have to say no, and rest...
"Be Still and Know that I Am God." Psalm 46:10

she has shouldered my disappointments...
She taught me that God Has a Plan (Jer. 29:11)...

she has taught me how to treat other people...

sometimes....she has just silently watched...

she comes from a long line of incredible mothers...

she has shined me up, tied my bows and sent me out into the world.

she has shared in my happiness and excitement...

she has given me my humor...

she has given me the ability to look at things from a different perspective at times...

she has stood right behind me, with her hands on my shoulders...

she has encouraged me to face my fears...

She has always known when I needed to get away and just have some fun- pinwheels and all

she has always helped with my decisions...some harder than others...

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Proverbs 31:25-29

You see, the world stops today to do what I have done every single moment of my life;

Arise and call you blessed.

I love you mom.

God, Never in a million years would I have known to ask you for all You have given me in this woman. Thank you. I know you better, because I see You in her.

In His Dust,

DCC